Chorlie's picture
Chorlie from Philadelphia, PA is reading The Rules of the Tunnel October 2, 2011 - 2:37pm

Pretty much speaks for itself.

Explain yourself.

 

Charles's picture
Charles from Portland is reading Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones October 2, 2011 - 5:39pm

my ego?

hmm.. that's tough, im cocky and self-assured, and on most days pretty fucking sure im just a temporarily embarrassed millionaire, but i get ego bruises really easy, and it takes me a long time to recover. once i stopped writing for a year because a professor told me i was wasting my time and my voice was "too dreamlike" (i'll post the story and prove her wrong [again] if anyone wants me to) and that wrecked me, even though i knew that cunt had never published shit in her life, and had nothing to show for her precious MFA, and the class pretty much loved it.

Brandon's picture
Brandon from KCMO is reading Made to Break October 2, 2011 - 5:44pm

I'm really good looking.  On a scale of 1 to 2 I'm a strong 1.

Charles's picture
Charles from Portland is reading Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones October 2, 2011 - 5:45pm

oh, and i am a sexy bitch. thanks for reminding me, brandon.

Brandon's picture
Brandon from KCMO is reading Made to Break October 2, 2011 - 5:46pm

It's what I'm here for, Chuck.

Chorlie's picture
Chorlie from Philadelphia, PA is reading The Rules of the Tunnel October 2, 2011 - 5:54pm

I think studying psychology is very important in terms of writing. Cities are wonderful, too. People watching. Testing yourself in social interactions. Relying on your word when spoken, knowing that you are building material for when you have time to sit and reflect. You learn a lot by listening. It's reading with your ears. After you have that quality, I think it is very easy to analyze the world around you with an unimpeded perspective. You sense it.

Chorlie's picture
Chorlie from Philadelphia, PA is reading The Rules of the Tunnel October 2, 2011 - 6:14pm

And being cocky as fuck doesn't hurt, either.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts October 2, 2011 - 6:25pm

What the fuck does this have to do with me again?

Laramore Black's picture
Laramore Black from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8 October 2, 2011 - 6:39pm

Ego?

Wish I had one, a permanent one. There's those moments where I am in a room full of either drunken buffoons or a class of brain-washed trust fund kids where I feel mentally superior. Instead of being cocky or saying things to dumb found them; I shock them. I've began looking at every factor of life as a social experiment, it's fun.

Here's some examples:

Today, 
I went to Wal-Mart for some mundane fruits and printer ink.
On the check out aisle the lady went to pull a bag and the bag was ripped.
"You'd think a super store like Wal-Mart could make a better bag than this." The young girl said.
I picked up a bag and examined it. (Here's the kicker)

"I don't know, it's a mighty fine product for an Indonesian sweat shop worker that makes 3 cents an hour to produce; can you imagine Wal-Mart functioning without these well designed pieces of plastic?"

Her jaw dropped and the people in line gave me a look like I was a monster. 
I paid and as I walked away I said: "God bless you."

People see this as rude, but I was simply stating a possible truth.

The lady probably spent the rest of her shift wondering the origin of those bags and it helped her through 8 hours of shoving peoples groceries into bags and repeating the same programmed voiced lines.

The most fun you can have is at parties though.
You can be anyone, you can be the asshole, or the sympathetic shoulder to cry on.
The guy who climbs on your roof and pisses on your neighbors car while screaming "I AM A SHINY GOLDEN GOD!". When you release the idea of having a personal ego, you can have everyone's ego.

Most of all you give everyone that story they talk about at random times, it's almost better than writing one.

Maybe I'm just a product of 3 years of Journalism, Psychology, and Sociology classes.

Either way there's no such thing as an ego when you adapt to the people around you and become the lead character. I started doing this six months ago and it has improved every aspect of my life.

...I rant sometimes.

 

Chester Pane's picture
Chester Pane from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz October 2, 2011 - 7:36pm

I shit my pants recently. Does that count?

Laramore Black's picture
Laramore Black from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8 October 2, 2011 - 7:44pm

One time I was really drunk and fell asleep, I dreamt that I got up to take a shit.

When I woke up the shit was in my pants...

.'s picture
. October 2, 2011 - 7:46pm

I had an ego-death once but then I cut my hair and stopped being a hippie.

Laramore Black's picture
Laramore Black from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8 October 2, 2011 - 7:57pm

...Bob Dylan?

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin October 2, 2011 - 10:36pm

I have a very well developed Id, does that help? I'm training it to fill in for my lazy (if inflated) ego.

Annie's picture
Annie from Cape Town, South Africa is reading Walking to Hollywood by Will Self October 2, 2011 - 10:59pm

I like to think of it as 'big cock swagger'. The cock's purely metaphorical, mind you.

.'s picture
. October 2, 2011 - 11:00pm

Freud comes to mind...

Jen Todd's picture
Jen Todd is reading your lifeline and all signs are good October 2, 2011 - 11:03pm

Ego kills your talent. (;

Sara's picture
Sara from Illinois is reading LitReactor Profile Page October 3, 2011 - 12:31am

Talent kills your ego.

Jen Todd's picture
Jen Todd is reading your lifeline and all signs are good October 3, 2011 - 12:42am

Video killed the radio star.

lyndonriggall's picture
lyndonriggall from Tasmania is reading Going Bovine by Libba Bray October 3, 2011 - 12:48am

Someone once told me that they could never keep a blog because it was 'narcissistic'.  To which I responded (in longer form), on my blog:

 

In response to charges of narcissism I say that Shakespeare is probably not the greatest writer who ever lived. Neither is your choice of best artist in any field - painting, music, cinema, photography... Undoubtedly there are geniuses all around the world who either refused to self-promote and never got started at all, or whose stunning works were created solely for themselves, and slipped into the bottom of a drawer to later be thrown away. But Shakespeare wanted his plays to be read, to be staged, and to be seen. And we still do what he demanded. All the greatest artists you can think of share one common feature - every single one of them had the audacity to think that you cared about what they had to say.

So those are my feelings on the issue, not that I expect you to look at them or anything.  Man, how egotistical do you think I am?!

damoneorone's picture
damoneorone from Hobbs, New Mexico is reading Imperial Bedrooms October 3, 2011 - 1:32pm

There has to be a good amount of ego to even let someone read your work.  You yourself must deem it 'worthy' of someone else's eyes.  I mean how many artists were not appreciated until after they were gone?  During their lives they were seen as crazy.  Which brings me to my next point... you gotta be somewhat crazy. Don't ya?

Pezcore1123's picture
Pezcore1123 from Webster, NY is reading your profile October 3, 2011 - 1:37pm

Ah, ego!  Inflated by alcohol, murdered by my wife.  For any one man to think his definition of ego is superior is the best definition of ego.

.'s picture
. October 5, 2011 - 11:16pm

I'll have a huge ego once I get that Scribbler badge.

Charles's picture
Charles from Portland is reading Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones October 5, 2011 - 11:22pm

I'll have a huge ego once I get that Scribbler badge.

 

still the first

.'s picture
. October 6, 2011 - 12:15am

I'm happy with my 3rd place thank you

Chester Pane's picture
Chester Pane from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz October 6, 2011 - 6:52am

My ego is only as big as Annie's metaphorical cock swagger.

Raelyn's picture
Raelyn from California is reading The Liars' Club October 7, 2011 - 5:39pm

I don't have an ego; I'm just an elitist.  

Jami Kali's picture
Jami Kali from Pennsylvania is reading words October 7, 2011 - 6:36pm

I think studying psychology is very important in terms of writing. Cities are wonderful, too. People watching. Testing yourself in social interactions. Relying on your word when spoken, knowing that you are building material for when you have time to sit and reflect. You learn a lot by listening. It's reading with your ears. After you have that quality, I think it is very easy to analyze the world around you with an unimpeded perspective. You sense it.

People watching is my favorite addiction.

I'm lucky enough to work with kids with "behavioral issues" and "mental disorders" that come from low-income families. So, pretty much, it's all research all the time. Kids say and do the wackiest shit while maintaining a firmer grasp on reality than the big people telling them what to do (in a sense).

I spent six months bonding with an autistic girl... We had a love-hate kinda friendship since my job was to prepare her for a life in mainstream society. I didn't succeed, of course, but the experience has done wonders for my imagination.

 

Someone once told me that they could never keep a blog because it was 'narcissistic'.

 

That's why I won't let myself wear high heels. But it's fun to try them on and walk around the store in them. And think about them. My feet need them.

Which reminds me: foot watching is also good for your writing.

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch October 7, 2011 - 10:31pm

Could you hoola hoop in heels Jami?

My ego is buried under my id.

Chester Pane's picture
Chester Pane from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz October 7, 2011 - 10:34pm

And foot licking. And too short shorts.

Vraj! I bet Jami could.

Nav Persona's picture
Nav Persona from Purgatory is reading The Babayaga October 8, 2011 - 7:04am

I use reverse psychology on my ego - tell it it's worthless and will never amount to anything.

I think it's working.

Jami Kali's picture
Jami Kali from Pennsylvania is reading words October 8, 2011 - 8:28am

Liana, I've only tried in my dreams.

But this is my ego talking. The selfless jami-being would not wear heels or short shorts for any type of seductive shock effect.

Reverse psychology doesn't work on mine. It's too insecure to show me up.

Chester Pane's picture
Chester Pane from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz October 8, 2011 - 9:01am

Jami, you try a lot of things in dreams, don't you? Would the ego Jami-being hula hoop in heels and short shorts? I bet Liana could do that. Shit I bet Sam could do that. That is one of my dreams; to see you three hula-hooping.

Sapple-Dapple: I think I tell my ego the same thing. Clever words girl.

D Michael Hardy's picture
D Michael Hardy from Tampa, FL October 8, 2011 - 9:30am

In terms of writing I think we all need a healthy ego, but it's important to not let that ego get out of control should any of us become the next Faulkner or King or whoever...what a writer needs more than anything is confidence...and a thick skin for all those rejections!

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch October 8, 2011 - 10:21am

@Chester so you wouldn't hoop with us? Hey can I borrow your dream for a bit?

@Michael I could not agree more. Too little ego will not get you anywhere (if you cry for every rejection), too much will put the cart before the horse and you can have a big fall.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts October 10, 2011 - 3:22am

I have a struggle on the subject of ego, or maybe just an insecurity (depending on how you swing it.) An example, I struggle now as I did when I was writing and submitting stuff regularly, a few years ago, with the idea of a pen name. I always thought my name wasn't phonetically memorable, thus, not marketable. But then thinking of that feels so vain, embarassing. So maybe I stick to the honest name, may be easier to get paid one day (getting paid writing? Wouldn't know) but it worked otherwise for Jack Ketchum, and Robert Jordon. Overthinking, a bain.

But as seen, My ego is always in check between my very particular/opinionated pretensiousness and my crushing low confidence.

Fylh's picture
Fylh from from from is reading is from is reading is reading is reading reading is reading October 10, 2011 - 3:28am

I'm pretty sure it's a good thing to have a big ego, as long as you're not unkind to people. If you can love yourself unconditionally, you're less likely to spend your time stroking yourself wondering what you're worth — and that gives you more time to get stuff done.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin October 10, 2011 - 9:29am

I struggled with the pen name thing as well, I mean Wilczynski is a nightmare, but you are right, going with a pen name felt a little pretentious to me.

Not to mention that I just used my rap name, and NK Dub didn't sound very professional either.

I can sympathize with a lot of your thoughts on this subject Renfield.

Jami Kali's picture
Jami Kali from Pennsylvania is reading words October 10, 2011 - 9:33am

Wilczynski-

my last name is Butczynski, which is why my middle name took over.

Nav Persona's picture
Nav Persona from Purgatory is reading The Babayaga October 10, 2011 - 10:07am

I may or may not be using a pen name, just as I may or may not wish for very young members of my family to read the horror I may or may not write, lol.

Daniel Crenna's picture
Daniel Crenna from Canada is reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane October 10, 2011 - 3:58pm

It's probably the least effective thing if you're trying to accomplish a goal. All an ego does is temporarily submerge you in your own ether to the point where you believe your experiences matter enough that someone else will actually change their own behavior over them. They never do.

Egos (usually) ruin a good party, a good forum, a good industry. You can have an ego, but just don't make it part of the work your hands are doing. In this context, that means don't let it affect when the hands hit the keys.    An ego can live off the possibility of things. Bodies have to live off real things.

"Do the thing, and you will have the power." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

XXORosie's picture
XXORosie from United States March 4, 2016 - 2:33pm

  

Charles's picture
Charles from Portland is reading Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones October 12, 2011 - 5:30pm

me too.